Outside In

New Furniture Designs Are Comfortable In Either Setting.

September 19, 2003|By Elaine Markoutsas Universal Press Syndicate

Some folks are looking at outdoor furnishings in a whole new light. With better options for materials and designs from traditional to contemporary, some outdoor furnishings are so handsome you may be tempted to bring them inside.

The latest breed of teak, weatherproof wicker, iron and aluminum is stylish. Cushions are plump and comfy, and fabrics are bolder with a wider array of colors and textures. Beyond looks, there are good reasons to consider dual use. Durability makes outdoor furniture and fabrics attractive, especially for families with small children and pets.

Bringing the outside in is not a new concept for South Floridians. Our more casual lifestyle calls for furniture that's easy to move out or in, depending on need.

In the past decade, we all have evolved in how we want our homes to relate to nature. We brought the outside in with porches or garden rooms. We took the inside out with more sophisticated furniture designed for "outdoor rooms," with sofas, chaises, tables and even lamps made to withstand the elements. Then we took the kitchen outdoors, surrounding the patio grill with sinks, fridges and plenty of counter space.

Even the marketing of outdoor furnishings has changed. Now companies tag their products for outdoor-indoor use. One of the biggest improvements has been in fabrics. Last year, Brown Jordan introduced plush chenille fabrics in earth hues for outdoor use. Indeed, outdoor fabrics no longer are limited to wimpy pastels or florals in colors that seldom seem current. Some new offerings boast a foreign flavor.

Donghia Furniture/ was inspired by the arts and crafts of Guatemala and Central America for its recently introduced Fiesta Collection. Each of the five patterns boasts innovative textures that we're not accustomed to seeing outdoors.

An intricate pattern of geometric grids and stripes has the feel of a hand-quilted patchwork piece and is called Poncho. Another variegated stripe, Tamal, is accented with small flowers and squiggles that look as though they've been embroidered. Sombrero Stripe is reminiscent of native woven pieces such as colorful shirts, dresses and belts. Pinata, a ribbed fabric, comes in bright solids, and Baja Stripe teams several brights in wide and narrow configurations.

While Donghia went south of the border for ideas, Perennials Inc. nodded to Italy, specifically its landscape and architecture, for its Villa Collection. Hues of pomodoro (tomato red), pesto (olive green), terracotta and copper dome are mated in checks and stripes in two scales, Siena (medium) and Grand Canal (large). Oyster, pewter, Medici gold and Isola Bella, a vivid blue reminiscent of the sea, round out the palette.

Rachel Lane, a spokesperson for Perennials, says these colors blend much better with nature. Some fabrics are especially soft to the touch and drape nicely as curtains or tablecloths as well as in a variety of upholstery needs.

"Years ago, outdoor fabrics seemed plastic-y," Lane says. Yet like Donghia's fabrics, which were developed with Sunbrella, the company known for its all-weather products, the line is soil- and stain-repellent, colorfast and resistant to mildew, rot, chlorine and atmospheric chemicals.

"They really are perfect for high-traffic areas indoors," Lane says. "On a window seat in a kitchen, for example, they'd stand up to wear and tear. They're fade resistant." And, she notes, with more windows in today's homes, ultraviolet protection is desirable.

Toughness is another reason some furniture designed for the outdoors is coming inside. In tropical climates, teak and mahogany traditionally have been used as building materials and for flooring and furniture. Some have been quite elegant, as evidenced by British colonial pieces crafted during the Raj period.

But in this country, teak's reputation got a bad design rap because a lot of mass-market products lacked grace. Quality construction and style have been available, but usually at a higher price.

One of the high-end companies, Barlow Tyrie, which has been producing ecologically harvested teak since 1920, is known for its "English garden tradition" in styling. A signature piece is the classical bench with an arched back attributed to the Edwardian architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

You might consider integrating a cocktail table, loveseat, chair and ottoman from Smith & Hawken's St. Croix Bay collection into a family room or even bedroom. Its rustproof aluminum frame is topped with a synthetic chocolate-colored wicker that outlasts rain and sun.